Clutch mechanism.



C. B. KING Patented Feb. 19, 1918.

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CLUTCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I9. l9I6- Patented Feb. 19, 1918.

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CLUTCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19. new.

Patented Febc 19 1918.

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CHARLES B. KING, CHARLES S. JOHNSON, AND BENJAMIN JACOBY, 0F MARION, OHIO,

ASSIGNORS TO THE MARION STEAM SHOVEL COMPANY, OF MARION,

PORA'IION OF OHIO.

OHIO, A COR- CLU'ICH MECHANISM.

eaders.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 119, 19113.

Original application filed September 25, 1915, Serial No. 52,546. Divided and this application filed. February 19, 1916. Serial No. 79;,246.

To all whom it may concern:

- drawing.

This invention relates to clutch mechanism especially adapted for use in connection-with excavating machines. This application is a division from the application filed by the applicants September 25, 1915, Ser. No. 52,546.

The object of the present invention is to provide a clutch mechanism so organized that it can be easily and quickly controlled.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top, plan view of the clutch mechanism; Fig. 2 is a sectional, plan view of the same, showing the driving connections from the engine and the reversing clutches; Fig. 3 is a detail sideelevation of the clutch band operating and connecting devices: a section on the line. 4 4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the reversing gear and brake drum operating lever devices; Fig. 6 is a plan thereof showing the operating devices in neutral position, and Fig. 7 is a similar" view showing the position of the device when one of the brake bands is in engagement with its drum.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the several views above described, 31 indicates an internal combustion engine which may be of 'any suitable type and is here shown as a four cylinder engine of a standard construction. The crank shaft 32 of the engine extends forwardly and is journaled in a bearing 33 mounted upon any suitable support. Interposed between the'bearing and the end of the engine is the usual fly wheel 34. A bevel pinion 35 rigidly secured to the end of the engine shaft 32 meshes with two opposed bevel pinions 36 and 37 loosely mounted on a shaft 38 extending transversely of the platform 4 and journaled in bearings 39. This shaft may be termed the main shaft or reversing shaft because not only does it serve as the medium through Fig. 4. is

which the power is transmitted from the engine to all of the parts of the mechanism but it also is reversible and serves as the reversing shaft for certains parts of the mechanism, such as the propelling devices, as will be hereinafter described. To this end means are provided for clutching either of the bevel gears 36 or 37 to the shaft while its companion gear is allowed to run idle, and there is provided a suitable controlling device for this clutch mechanism, whereby the one gear will be automatically released before the other is clutched to the shaft. The clutch mechanisms, as herein shown, comprise two friction drums 40 and 41 mounted upon and rigidly secured to elongated hubs43 forming part of the respective gears 36 and 37. Rigidly secured to the shaft adjacent to the friction drums 40 and 41 are two supports 44 and 45, here shown in the form of wheels or spiders. Carried by these supports are friction bands 46 and 47 which extend about the respective friction drums 40 and 41 and are secured at their ends to their respective supports. Means are provided on each support for tightening or loosening the band about the friction drum, and, to this end. one or both of the ends of the friction band are adjust ably connected with the support. In the present construction two studs or short shafts 48 and 49, Figs. 1 and 3, are rotatably mounted in each support and each shaft is provided on its inner end with a crank arm 50 having a pin or trunnion 51 to which the ends of the friction band are connected. Fig. 2 shows the crank arm 50 and pin 51 in connection with the stud 49. The arrangement is the same on the stud 48, as shown in Fig. 1. The crank shaft 48 is held normally against movement and, to this end, is provided with a crank arm 51' having connected to its outer end one end of a rod 52, the other end of which is slidably mounted in an apertured lug 53 secured to the support .44 or 45. Confined between the 'lug 53 and a shoulder 54 on the rod 52 is held against movement in the and shaft to tighten or loosen, as may be desired, the friction band. As here shown, this other crank shaft, 49, is also provided with a crank arm 57 to the outer end of which is connected a link 58, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to two other links, one of which, the link 59, is pivotally connected to a fixed part of the support, as to one of the spokes thereof. The second link, 60, which is connected .with the link 58, forms a part of a toggle and is pivotally connected with a link 61 which forms the other part of the toggle and which is pivotally mounted at 62 hub of the support. Rigidly secured to the inner arm of the toggle, 61, and extending through a slot 63 in the hub of the support 44 is an arm 64, the inner end of which extends-into. an opening or slot 65 formedin a plunger or slide rod 66 which is slidably mounted in an axial .opening 67 formed in one end of the shaft 38 and slidable therein. Obviously, the reciprocation of the plunger 66 will break or straight n the toggle 6061, thus rocking the crank shaft 49 and tightening or loosening the brake band. Vhen the toggle is in its extended or straightened position the brake band will be in its tightened condition and will be held verv rigidlv in that position because the several axes of the toggle are in alinement, or preferably the central axis will have been moved slightly bevond the axes of the ends of the toggle. There are. of c urse, two of these plungers 6. o e mounted in each end of the shaft, and the two plungers are preferablv operated successs vely, the one to straighten its toggle and'tighten its c u ch band and the other to break its toggle and release its clutch band. Further, it is desirable that this operation be accomplished from a remote po nt. such. for example. as the forward end of a plat orm. at wh ch point the operator stands. To this end the two plungers are connected one to the other and an o erative connection is established between the one plunger and the operating lever. These connections mav he established in various manners, but th t shown in Figs 1. 5, 6 and 7 is a verv efficient one. As there shown, the controll ng lever 69 which is lo-' cated at the forward end of the which. in turn. is connected ith an arm 71 mounted on one end of a shaft 72 extending transversely of the pla form and h ving at its other end' a second arm 73 wh ch is connected by means of a link 74 with an arm 75 secu ed to the lower end of a vert cal shaft 76 mounted in su table bearings 78 near the end of the reversing shaft 38. A similar shaft .79 is mounted at the onpo; site end of the main or reversing shaft 38 and the shafts 76 and 79 are provided, respectively,

upon the I platform 1s connected at its lower end w th a rod arm 83 on the shaft 79 will with arms 80 and 81 which are conn cted one with the other by a rod 82. Each of the vertical shafts 76 and 79 is provided at its upper end with an arm, or preferably a pair of arms, 83, see Fig. 5, having in their ends slots 85 adapted to receive the trunnions 86, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, projecting from theouter ends of the respective plungers 66, thereby establishing an operative connection between the controlling lever 69 and the twoplungers.

The connection between the plungers and the controlling lever is such that the move ment of the lever from its neutral position in one direction will actuate the selected plunger only and will allow the other plunger to remain idle, and further, this connection is such that when the lever is released the plunger will be automatically moved in a direction to release its clutch band. To this end, each of the arms 83 is 'rotatably mounted on its shaft and is provlded with a slot or key-way 87 to receive a key 88 rigidly secured to the shaft. The key-way is of a length greater than the thickness of the key, thereby allowing a certain amount of lost motion, and, consequently, the shaft can have movement relatively to the arm, a spring 89 being provided for each arm 83 to move the same independently of its shaft. There is one of these springs arranged about the hub of each arm 83, as shown more particularly in Figs. 5 and 6, and the spring is secured at one end to the hub, as shown at 90, and at the other end to a pin 91 rigidly secured to a fixed part adjacent to the hub of the arm.

On account of the construction of the key-ways in the arms 83 and the shafts 76 and 79, there is in reality no connection between these'parts in certain positions and the springs are counted on to impart the movement to the arms. When the arms are in their neutral positions, as shown in Fig. 6, the movement of the connecting rod 82 in the direction of the arrow will cause the key 88 to be engaged with the side of the key-way in the arm 83 on the shaft 76, the arm turning with the shaft 76 and of course setting the friction. 7 At the same time the shaft 79 will rotate but no motion will be given the arm 83 on the shaft 79 as in this position the key 88 in the shaft 79 has no contact with its arm Therefore, the

remain stationary, as the key does not move through an are greater than the length of the key-way in the arm. After the arm 83 on the shaft 76 has been moved to its in or clutched position and it is desired to release the same, the connecting rod 82 is moved in the opposite direction, but as there is then no contact between the key 88 and the arm 83 on the'shaft 76 in this direction, the spring must impart the motion to the arm 83 and throw out the clutch. In case the arm. 83

rea ers gage the side of the key-way in the arm 83 and give the arm a start; the spring throwing it out the remainder of the way. This feature of having the spring do the throwing out permits of the arm 83 having but half the travel that would be necessary in case the arms were keyed solid to the shaft. If the arm 83 were keyed solid to the shaft then it would be necessary to provide sufficient throw to allow one side to be completely thrown out before the other side was commencing to throw in, but with the present arrangement the two arms act independent of each other, that is, with the arms in neutral position no motion is imparted to the right hand arm while the left hand arm is being thrown either in or out, or'

vice versa. This is on account of the long key-way in the arm 83, as the amount of travel necessary to throw the arm 83 on the shaft 7 9 to in position is no greater than the amount of travel of the shaft 76 before it strikes the opposite side of the keyway in the arm 83. With the arm 83 on the shaft 79 thrown to in position, the key 88 would engage the side of the keythen in throwing this arm out the spring would cause the arm to follow the key until the arm 83 reached the out position, when the arm 83 would stop, but if the motion of the shaft 79 was continued in the same direction, which would be the case in setting the arm 83 on the shaft 76, the key 88 in the shaft 79 would simply turn through the key-way until it reached the opposite side of the key-way, by which time the arm 83 on the shaft 76 would be in in position.

It will be apparent that the mechanism for driving and controlling the main or reversing shaft from the continuously rotating engine shaft is such that this shaft can be caused to "rotate in either direction or to remain stationary and further that under an excessive load which would tend to choke down the engine the spring 55 will yield "nd permit the friction drum to tively to the friction band and, consequently, permit the engine shaft to rotate relatively to the driving shaft 38, thereby enabling the load either to be picked up gradually or to give the operator an opportunity to relieve the machine of its load, or a part thereof, without stopping the engine.

In front of the main or reversing shaft 38 and parallel therewith is a second transverse shaft 92 mounted in, suitable bearings. This shaft serves to operate different mechanisms, such as the swinging mechanism of an excavating machine and the crowding mechanism. This shaft is connected with 97 are, of course,

rotate rela the shaft 38 by means of a gear 9i rigidly secured thereto and meshing with a gear 95 rigidly secured to the main shaft 38. Consequently, the shaft 9:2 will be controlled by the movement of the shaft 38. This shaft 92 is provided near its outer ends with gears 96 and 97 which are adapted to mesh with suitable gearing for operating the swinging mechanism, not shown. The gears 96 and connected thereto. To this end, each gear has rigidly secured thereto and preferably mounted on the hub thereof a friction drum 10%, about which extends a friction band which is connected with a support 106 in substantially the manner described in connection with the clutches of the reversing shaft 38. Furthermore, the clutch bands are manipulated by mechanism substantially similar to that shown and described in con nection with the said reversing shaft. It will be seen that the gears 96 and 97 can be rotated independently of each other by clutching them to the shaft 92. A pinion 113 is shown mounted upon the shaft 92. This pinion is adapted to convey movement to mechanism not herein shown as it constitutes no part of the in\ cntion.

While we have shown and described one embodiment of the invention it will be understood that this has been chosen for the purposes of illustration only, and that we do not desire to be limited to the details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a clutch mechanism, the combination, with two'clutch devices. and means operated by said clutch devices in opposite directions according to which clutch is connected thereto, of two independent actuating devices, a single handle movable in opposite directions from a normal central position, connections between said handle and said clutch actuating devices, said connections having lost motion to opposite extents, and springs acting oppositely on said clutch actuating devices.

2. In a clutch mechanism. a drum, a friction band extending about the drum. a support, adjustable means on said support to which one end of the band is attached, and means for actuating said adjustable means comprising a link pivoted at one end to said adjusting means, a guide link connecting said first-mentioned link to the support. a toggle pivoted at one end to the adjacent end of the first-mentioned link and at its other end to the support, an arm attached to the last-mentioned end of said toggle and projecting beyond its pivotal connection to loosely mounted on the shaft 92 and are adapted to be individually lit) lUO

' said crank shaft, a

the support, and a plunger movable axially of the drum and support and having an opening to receive the arm.

3. In a clutch mechanism, a drum, a friction band extending about the drum, a support, adjustable means on said support to which one end of the band is attached, and means for actuatin said adjustable means comprising a radia 1y arranged toggle pivoted at one end to the adjustable mean and at its opposite end to the support, an arm fixed to the last-mentioned end of the toggle and projecting beyond its pivotal connection to the support, and a plunger movable axially of the drum and support and having an opening to receive the arm.

4. In a clutch mechanism, a shaft, a drum loosely mounted on said shaft, asupport rigidlymepured to said shaft, a crank shaft mounted in said support, a frictionband extending about said drum and having one end secured to said crank shaft and the other end secured to said support independently of said crank shaft, a link secured to guide link connecting said first-mentioned link to said support, a toggle pivotally connected with said firstmentioned link and said support, an arm secured to said toggle, and a plunger slidably mounted axially of said shaft and having an opening to receive the end of said arm.

5. In a clutch mechanism, a shaft, a drum loosely mounted on said shaft, a support rigidly secured to said shaft, a crank shaft mounted in said support, a friction band extending a out said drum and having one end secured to said crank shaft and the other end secured to said support independently of said crank shaft. a toggle having one end connected with said crank shaft and the other end pivoted to said support, means for causing said toggle to exert a substantially radial pull, an arm secured to that end of the toggle which is pivoted to said support, and a plunger movable axially of said shaft and having an opening to receive the arm.

6. In a clutch mechanism, a shaft having a guideway in each end, parts loosely mounted on said shaft, each of said parts having a friction drum secured thereto and rotating therewith, a supporting member rigidly secured to said shaft friction drums, a crank shaft journaled in each of said supporting members and having its crank arranged adjacent to said drum, a friction band extending about each of said drums, having one end secured to said crank and the other end secured to said support independently of said crank, a crank arm secured to each of said crank shafts, actuating mechanism mounted oneach of said supporting devices and comprising a link connected to the last-mentioned crank arm, a second link connecting the first-mentioned adjacent to each of said link with said support, a to end connected with vthe a jacent ends of said links and having its other end connected with said support, an arm secured to said toggle, a plunger mounted. in the adjacent guideway and having an opening to receive the arm of said toggle, and means for moving the plungers for the two clutch mechanisms in the same direction to cause one of said friction bands to be tightened and the other friction band to be released.

7. In a clutch mechanism, a shaft having a guideway in each end, parts loosely-mounted on said shaft, each of said parts having gle having one a friction drum secured thereto and rotat ing therewith, a supporting member rigidly secured to said shaft adjacent to each-of said friction drums, in each of said supporting members and having its crank arranged adjacent to said drum, a friction band extending about each of said drums having one end secured to said crank and the other end secured to said support independently of said crank, a crank arm secured to each of said crank shafts, a toggle on each support connected at one end with the crank arm of the corresponding crank shaft and pivotally connectedat its other end with said support, an arm rigidly secured to that part of said toggle which is mounted on said support, a plunger mounted in the adjacent guideway, having an opening to receive the arm of said toggle and extending beyond the end of said shaft, and an actuating device connected with both of said plungers, whereby when said actuating device is moved in one direction movement will be imparted to one plunger to actuate its friction band and to the other plunger to release its friction band.

8. In a clutch mechanism, a shaft having a longitudinal guideway in each end thereof, a plurality of clutch devices each comprising a friction drum loosely mounted on said shaft, a support rigidly secured to said shaft, a crank port and having.- its crank adjacent to said drum, a friction band extending about said drum, having one end connected with the crank of said shaft and the other end connected with said support independently of said crank shaft, an actuating device for each of said clutch devices comprising a toggle having one end pivotally mounted on said support and havmg its other end con nected with said crank shaft, an arm rigidly secured to that end of said toggle which is mounted on said support and extending beyond theaxis of said toggle, plungers slidably mounted in the respective guideways in the ends of said shaft and having openings to receive the ends of the arms of the respective toggles, and an actuating device operatively connected with both of said plungers.

a crank shaft journaled 9. In a clutch mechanism, a shaft having a guideway in one end thereof, a drum loosely mounted on said shaft, 2. support rigidly secured to said shaft, crank shafts mounted on said support and having their cranks adjacent to said drum, a friction band extending about said drum and having its ends connected with said crank shafts, arms secured to the respective crank shafts, a rod slidably mounted on said support and pivotally connected with one of said arms,

- a stop to hold said rod against movement in one direction, and a spring to resist its movement in the opposite direction, a plunger slidably mounted in the guideway in said shaft and operatively connected with the arm of the other crank shaft, and means for actuating said plunger.

10. In a clutch mechanism, a drum, a support, a crank shaft mounted on said support with its crank adjacent the drum, a friction band extending about the drum and having one end connected to said crank, an arm on the opposite end of said crank shaft, a rod pivotally connected to said arm, a spring exerting a tension on said rod to normally hold said end of the band fixed, and means for adjusting the other end of said friction band to tighten the same.

11. In a clutch mechanism, clutch devices, actuatin devices for said clutch devices, shafts a jacent said actuating devices, arms mounted upon said shafts and operatively connected with the respective actuating devices for said clutch devices, each of said arms having a hub provided with a recess adjacent its shaft, and keys mounted in said shafts and traveling in said recesses, means for actuating said shafts, and means for actuating the arms in one direction.

12. In a clutch mechanism, clutch devices, actuating devices for said clutch devices, shafts adjacent said actuating devices, arms mounted upon said shafts and operatively connected with the respective actuating devices for said clutch devices, each of said arms having a hub provided with a recess adjacent to its shaft, a key mounted in said shaft and traveling in said recess, means for actuating said shafts, and a spring connected to each of said arms tomove the same in one direction.

13. In a clutch mechanism, clutch devices, actuating devices for said clutch devices, shafts adjacent to said actuating devices, arms connected with the respective actuating devices and with said shafts, the connection between said arms and said shafts being such as to allow'said shafts alimited each having one end connected with the actuating member of its support and having its other end connected with said support independently of said actuating member, plungers slidably mounted in said guideways, operative connections between said plungers and said actuating devices, operating mechanism for said plungers comprising a shaft arranged adjacent to each of said plungers, arms mounted on said shafts and operatively connected with the respective plungers, each of said arms having a hub portion provided with a recess adjacent to said shaft, a key mounted in said shaft and traveling in said recess to permit said shaft to have a limited movement relatively to said arm, and means for actuating said last-mentioned shafts.

15. In a clutch mechanism, a shaft having guideways in the ends thereof, drums loosely mounted on said shaft, supporting members mounted on said shaft adjacent to the respectiv drums, actuating devices mounted on said supporting members, friction bands extending about the respective drums and each having one end connected with the actuating member of its support and having its other end connected with said support independently of said actuating member, plungers slidably mounted in said guideways, operative connections between said plungers and said actuating devices, operating mechanism for said plungers comprising a shaft arranged adjacent to each of said plungers, arms mounted on said shafts and operatively connected with the respective. plungers, each of said arms having hub portions provided with a recess adjacent to said shaft, a key mounted in said shaft and traveling in said recess to permit said shaft to have a limited movement relatively to said arm, means for actuating said last-mentioned shafts, and springs acting on said arms to move the same in one direction relatively to their shafts.

In testimony whereof, we afiix our signatures.

' CHARLES B. KING.

CHARLES S. JOHNSON. BENJAMIN J ACOBY. 

